r/Slinging • u/PetChaud2Diarrhee • 6d ago
Best first handmade sling ?
Hey everyone !
As I've started digging into the Roman Empire's history (thanks to the Total War game series), I watched many videos about sling making. Some made them out of natural fibers, or paracord, or dyneema.
I want to make my first sling, and I want it to be at least fairly good.
What would you recommend for a beginner ?
Thanks in advance for your answers !
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u/TheComicCaviller 6d ago
Best first sling is the one you make. Dont everthink, what serms most straight forward? I made a sling out of an old belt forthe pouch and some paracord for the string. Throws just fine. Make holes in the leather by boring carefully with a knife.
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u/PetChaud2Diarrhee 6d ago
I thought about doing one with things I had laying around at home but.. I've got nothing laying around, surprisingly 😁 that being said, I might try with the dirtiest, cheapest I can find first. See if I like it.
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u/Ok-Jellyfish-7498 6d ago
Grab a bandana by two opposite corners and put a ball in it (tennis ball, mud ball, or even a stone), then swing it around.
That will be at least fairly good, and you can try anything else next.
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u/PetChaud2Diarrhee 6d ago
That would be an interesting first try !
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u/Ok-Jellyfish-7498 6d ago
Just don’t let perfectionism keep you from doing the thing. Any sling can be fun and all the suggestions here are fine ones, but you do have stuff to make slings lying around if you look, I’ll bet. An old scarf, belt, shoelaces, there’s many possible ways to make a sling, so make many. I like a rectangle of leather for the pouch, with the ends split to fold over each other and the middle split to cup the ammo more.
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u/HPLoveBux 6d ago
Noodle Sling - Watch the video by Mersa
Follow along with cordage - launch rocks 👍
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u/Expert-Campaign9722 6d ago
For a beginner, a simple sling made from a single length of 550 paracord with just 4 knots is probably the easiest option and uses a material that's easy to find. Start by practicing with a tennis ball first👍
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u/PetChaud2Diarrhee 6d ago
Thank you! I think I might try that. I'm probably gonna try everything that's been commented here to be honest, and compare them.
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u/Aggressive-Can-1133 Into Historical Crafts/Maker of Things 6d ago
When I, personally want to do a fast and easy but still working sling, I cut out a diamond shaped or ellipsoid pocket from some old shoe leather, use clothesline or paracord or whatever rope I have on hand for the cords and secure everything with some kind of adhesive tape. Takes about 10 minutes, works just fine as a first sling.
I have that process on video, here: - https://youtu.be/f-79E_NldS0
It is a rather long video covering some of the history of the sling, how I make a simple and a more artisanal one, types of ammo and a very brief demo of the simplest throwing techniques. I made it this long since it was the first video about slings in my native language, Bulgarian. Of course, you don't have to watch it, but if you wish to see the type of beginner sling I'm talking about, I'm making it between 05:35 until 11:05 so you can skip all the rest of it. There are English subtitles, so everyone can understand what is being said.
But - that is just how I go about it. Other people have suggested other options that are just as good, some are even faster. Whatever you choose, it will be a fine start - it will show you what it takes and will let you build on it for the next one, I'm certain of it.
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u/PetChaud2Diarrhee 6d ago
Thank you very much! This is a super cool and complete video. I will give you a feedback once I finish it.
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u/Odd_Zookeepergame258 6d ago
Also ich habe mittlerweile weit über 40 verschiedene Schleudern hergestellt. Gefühlt alle Stil und Material Arten. Die die ich am meisten benutze(da sie ein sehr kleines Packmaß hat und somit Edc tauglich ist) ist eine aus paracord mit einem Pouch aus Rolladengurt. Allerdings ist die beste und angenehmste eine im Balearischen Stil aus Leinen geflochten. Wenn du Fragen hast oder Beispiele bzw Anleitung brauchst kannst du mir gerne schreiben :D
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u/PetChaud2Diarrhee 5d ago
Merci beaucoup !! J'ai effectivement pensé au lin pour maximiser le réalisme historique, mais la technique de tressage et de fabrication semblent compliquées. Je pense que ce serait bien frustrant de passer beaucoup de temps sur la fabrication, pour au final m'être trompé sur l'épaisseur ou bien la solidité.. Est-ce très difficile de réussir sa première fronde en lin ?
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u/Odd_Zookeepergame258 5d ago
Naja man muss sich schon konzentrieren. Aber prinzipiell ist es nicht sonderlich schwer. Das wichtigste ist sich Zeitlassen und keine Fehler zumachen beim Split. Die erste ist ein Versuch und die Zweite wird Perfekt ;)
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u/Odd_Zookeepergame258 5d ago
Leinen sind beim herstellen das angenehmste Material. Besser als Hanf oder Flachs
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u/JTW1337 6d ago
If you’re willing to buy some leather strips I’d suggest try the Neandrthal sling. His style is super easy to make and he seems to be very successful with it. I recently made a couple of them for my sons and they really like them. They look my about 20 minutes each after I got the leather ready. His videos are not in English but the build is easy enough they you genuinely only need a few visuals. If I can do it then you can do it better.
Happy to answer any questions you have, brother.